frequently invited to become a candidate for political positions, but declined.

For many years previous to his decease, agriculture, with a view of developing the interest of the State, occupied his attention. In 1856, Major Reading married in Washington, Miss Fanny Washington, who, with five children, is left to mourn the death of their beloved protector. The Committee having, to the best of their ability, presented all the incidents they could obtain regarding the life of their late friend and companion, now ask leave to present appropriate resolutions of respect for the consideration of the Society.

Whereas, it has pleased Divine Providence to terminate the earthly career of our friend and companion, Pierson B. Reading, by which event our Society has sustained an irreparable loss, and the State been deprived of one of its valuable citizens, who was deservedly regarded by our people as a man of the highest worth and severest rectitude of character. Be it

Resolved, That in the decease of Pierson B. Reading, frequently a chosen officer of our Society, we have sustained a bereavement, whose only consolation will be found in the remembrance of the noble traits of heart and mind, which marked his intercourse with his fellow men. Possessed of the most courteous manners; of enlarged views; and of a highly cultivated mind, united with probity of character, and the most dauntless bravery, he deserves that upon the tomb containing his ashes be inscribed the words that properly typify his life-Reading. The Pioneer.

Resolved, That the report of the Committee be published that this preamble and resolution be engrossed, and a copy sent to the widow of our deceased friend and companion, over whose welfare and that of her children, we invoke the guardianship of our merciful Father.

PHILIP A. ROACH,
JOSEPH W. WINANS,

LEWIS CUNNINGHAM,
ARCH'D H. GILLESPIE,

3

JACOB R. SNYDER.

LELAND STANFORD.

BY W. E BROWN.

L

ELAND STANFORD, eighth Governor of California, and President of the Central Pacific Railroad Company, was born in the County of Albany, State of New York, March 9th, 1824. His ancestors were English. They settled in the valley of the Mohawk about the beginning of the last century, and for several generations were classed among the substantial and thrifty farmers of that region. His father, Josiah Stanford, was a prominent citizen of Albany County, where he lived for many years, cultivating and improving the old homestead farm, called Elm Grove, on the stage road between Albany and Schenectady. His family consisted of seven sons, of whom Leland, the subject of this sketch, was the fourth-and one daughter who died in her infancy. Being in the prime of his life at the time that De Witt Clinton had successfully urged upon the people of New York his great project of canal navigation between the Hudson river and the lakes, the mind of Mr. Stanford was keenly alive to the importance of the enterprise, and he watched with absorbing interest the completion, in 1825, of the extensive work. This was the beginning of that great system of internal improvements which has made the State of New York an empire within itself.

A little later the practicability of railroads as a means of expeditious transit was freely discussed, but not until 1829, when the success of steam locomotives upon the Liverpool and Manchester road was established, did any